Negative/exclusive use of language in the public domain
Language can be inflammatory; sensationalised words and stories that seek an emotional response can arouse latent emotions of anger, fear and hostility.
The use of exclusive linguistic features can draw attention to specific racial groups.
- Former Army chief and 2018 Australian of the Year, David Morrison said: “Exclusive language, gender-based language or inappropriate language, has as much a deleterious or disadvantaged effect as when you’re saying something blatantly inappropriate to another human being,”
- Exclusive language is deemed offensive because it undermines people’s face needs (their self-worth and their dignity/self-respect).
- (In 2018) Alan Jones (2GB) commented on the leadership challenge between Ex prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and Peter Dutton. He said: “The nigger in the woodpile here, if one can use that expression – and I’m not going to yield to people who tell us that certain words in the language are forbidden – the person who’s playing hard to get is Mathias Cormann.” This idiomatic phrase (“the nigger in the woodpile”) has racist connotations and is offensive to people of colour.
- Likewise, Greens senator Sarah Hanson Young is suing Senator David Leyonhjelm for defamation because he told her to “stop shagging men”. Young believes that the comments were sexist and derogatory and were used to intimidate and to “slut shame” her. Young states, “it’s offensive, it’s inflammatory” and “I’m not prepared to sit here and be intimidated and bullied”. Her stance reflects her determination to confront language that, she believes, is demeaning towards women and, which typecasts them as loose and dishonest.
- Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton singled out young African-Australian members of the community as people who were capable of unprovoked violent attacks. He claimed, on a Sydney ratio station, that Melburnians “are scared to go out at restaurants of a nighttime because they’re followed home by these gangs, home invasions and cars are stolen.” In this particular case, Mr Dutton uses this unfounded and sensationalised anecdotal example relating to Sudanese-African gangs to whip up fear and to demonise socially disadvantaged groups. His language uses racist innuendos that deliberately inflame and sensationalise an incident in order to gain political influence and political points. His hidden agenda is to imply that his Government is being tough on crime, whereas the Victorian Government is not tough enough.
- In further comments, Mr Dutton implied that because the parents of these youth came from Somalia or Sudan that their offspring were thugs or naturally belonged to gangs. In such cases, the use of exaggerated and hyperbolic anecdotes by people in positions of influence can be demoralising for the “victims” and for members of marginalised communities who are seeking to gain respect and to find a way to belong to a new community.
- Social/political commentator: Canadian criminologist Barbara Perry says, states confer permission to hate their citizens. This is one such example whereby sensationalised stereotyping of social groups aims to legitimise people’s fears that they may have about certain ethnic groups.
- Re 2018 Liberal Leadership challenge, Alan Jones said Finance Minister Mathias Corman needed to declare his loyalty. “The n—– in the woodpile here, if one can use that expression – and I’m not going to yield to people who tell us that certain words in the language are forbidden – the person who’s playing hard to get is Mathias Cormann.” The phrase originated in the United States in the mid-19th Century and is thought to have referred to slaves who concealed themselves as they escaped to secure their freedom.
- 2019: “Is anything taboo these days?”: Please read this Editorial on Fraser Anning and the nazi salutes at the public rally in St Kilda.
- Please see summary list on positive/negative face needs and face-threatening acts.
Inappropriate use of profanities in the public domain/texting and new tech forms of communication.
- In 2018, Victoria Labor politician Adem Somyurek texted a stream of abusive and bitter threats against a Federal MP. Mr Somyurek also threatened Mr Uren with a knife.
- See examples and rulings regarding language from the Fair Work Commissioner
- See Double speak or “duck speak” (1984 quotes/George Orwell)
- See use of profanities in public.
- Also see inappropriate use of “trolling” by public figure.
-
- Return to English Language Tasks and Resources for 2019
- Return to Public Language and Identity, essays and quotes
- Return to Formal and Informal Language, essays and quotes
- Classes This Week